Combined wax applier (electric), polisher, and carpet sweeper



Aug. 10, 1937. D. B. REPLOGLE 2,089,911

COMBINED WAX APPLIER (ELECTRIC), POLISHER, AND CARPET SWEEPER Filed Jan.25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l 0. B. )PE/ LOGLE Aug. 10, 1937 D. B. REPLOGLE2,089,911

COMBINED WAX APPLIER (ELECTRIC), POLISHER, AND CARPET SWEEPER Filed Jan.25, 1936 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10, 1937. D. B. REPLOGLE 2,089,91 1

COMBINED WAX APPLIER (ELECTRIC) POLISHER, AND CARPET SWEEPER Filed Jan.25, 1936 gnvc'wtom 0. 5. fifPweL 5,

(Hot $144;

3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicECOMBINED WAX APPLIER (ELECTRIC), POLISHER, AND CARPET SWEEPERApplication January 25, 1936, Serial No. 60,873

3 Claims.

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly toapparatus of this type utilizing the cleaning effect of swiftly movingair, and to attachments for such cleaning apparatus, whereby wax may beapplied to a surface to be cleaned and after the application of wax thefloor may be polished, while at the same time air is being drawn intothe tool over theawaxed surface, thus drying such surface and picking upsuch particles of Wax and dirt as may be rubbed loose from the floor.

In designing the apparatus, it is my aimto utilize to a large extentstandard and interchangeable parts, connections and the like, which arecovered by my prior patents and pending applications, and which areincluded in what is known as the Air-Way System, the term Air- Way beingcovered by a registered trade-mark.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my applicationSerial No.120',240,fi1ed May 7 1935.

'One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel meansfor electrically heating the wax carried by the waxing attachment. IA

further object of the invention is to iprovide improved means forconnecting andidisconnect- 1 ing the electric current which supplies theheating element. Still another object of the invention is toprovidemeans forautomatically'breaking the electrical connection as thecleaning tool equipped with the combined waxing and'polishing attachmentis moved from the waxing to the polishing position.

.Otherobjects will'be apparent from -a consideration oft-he furtherdetailed description and the accompanying drawings in which are setforth various illustrative embodiments or the invention.

.In thedrawingsz- 4.0 Fig. lis a top plan view on a reduced scaleshowing a cleaner of the Air-Way type equipped with a wax applying andfloor polishing attachmentportionsof the cleaner being broken away, and.thewax applier shown in operative position;

'45 Fig. 2 is an 'end' view on a larger scale than Fig. l, theattachment being shown insectio-n and the wax applier in workingposition;

.Fig. 3 is a similar view, from the other end of the cleaner, theattachment being shown in 50 elevation;

Fig.4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the floor tool reversed,thesuction nozzle being in operative positionand the wax applier ininoperative position;

55 Fig. 5 'isa fragmentary plan view of theattachment looking upward onFig. 3, parts being shown in dotted lines;

Fig.6 is a plan view looking down on the apparatus in the position shownin Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan view on a reduced scale, look ing down on the apparatusin the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the wax carrier attachment shown removedfrom the cleaner, and withthe wax bar and heater separated therefrom;

.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the wax cake or bar;

. Fig-10 is a perspective view of the heater unit and the'net coveringtherefor; 15

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the attachment appliedto a cleanerof the Caddy yp Fig-12' isa perspective view showing a furthermodification;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a differentform ofwaxing andheating attachment, and equipped with hooks for attaching the same tocleaners of well known types;

Fig..:14 is a perspective view of a modified form 25 of v'polisherequipped with attaching hooks;

Fig. 15 is aperspective view showing a cleaner :of conventional typeequipped with the attachment shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view on a scale some- 30 what larger than thatemployed in Fig. 15, showing details of construction;

Fig. 17 is a detailed view showing the electrical connections; and

Fig. 18 is a View showing the attachment ap- 35 plied to a somewhatdiiierent form of cleaner.

Referring particularly'to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs.1-10 inclusive, A represents a floor tool of the Air-Way type and B awaxing and polishing attachment shown 40 shaded in contrast to the tool.

Thefloor tool may be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,017,770 toReplcgle and Queen, dated October 15, 1935, to which reference may behad for further details of construction, and the waxing. and polishingattachment is similar to that set forth in my copending applicationSerial No.

20,240, filed May 7, 1935, except that the waxing attachment is equippedwith an electrical wax heating unit. The aforesaid application maybe-referred to for details of construction com- .mon to the two.

able source of suction as the pipe [3. The nozzle is adapted to bereversed about the joint I l as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4;, forexample. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the waxing attachment is inoperative position with its face flush with the floor, while in Fig. 4,the polisher is in operative position and air may be drawn into themouth of the nozzle together with rolled-up bits of wax, dirt, etc. InFig. 1, the nozzle is shown connected to the suction-producing means ofa portable type suction cleaner which may be of the general constructionshown in my Reissue Patent No. 16,224, dated December 15, 1925. Thereference numeral M denotes the fan motor cas ing. The polishing andwaxing .attachment is shown in detail in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the samebeing separated from the cleaner and the parts of the attachmentseparated one from another to show details of construction. Thereference numeral i5 denotes a wax receiving trough which may becomposed of sheet metal or any suitable material and which is providedwith flexible attaching clips l6 which are adapted to fit over,

the top of the cleaner nozzle. l 7 denotes the polishing attachment orbar which is preferably of felt and which extends at an angle to theplane of the wax receiving trough. Extending from the ends of the trough[5 are members l8 having openings 59 therein to permit roller shanks ofthe cleaner nozzle to pass therethrough and to hold the attachment inposition.

The numeral 20 denotes a suitable wax cake or bar shaped to fit into thetrough I5, and 2!) denotes a paper covering which is partially or whollyremoved from the wax before placing the same in the trough.

The heating unit is incorporated within a telescopic cover 2! which isadapted to fit over the wax cake and the trough 15. The cover isprovided with a mesh facing 22 and the heating elements are shown ascomprising coils 23 extending lengthwise of the unit. 'These coils areadapted to heat the wax cake and cause the'same to flow readily. 'Theends of the coils are provided with connectors 24 which are adapted toengage the heads of prongs 25, 25, to which the members 24 are attached.This attachment is.

shown clearly in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. A socket member 26 is adapted toengage the prongsv 25, 25 and complete a circuit through the heatingcoils. When the socket is removed, the connection is broken. The socket26 is connected to a conductor cord 2? which is supplied from anysuitable source of current. A guide 28 is provided at the rear of theattachment and a further guide 29 is shown on the stub portion l 2.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and '7, the prongs 25 are shownfitted into the socket 26, the waxing attachment being in workingposition. The arrangement of parts is such that when the tool isreversed so as to place the nozzle in operative position, and the waxerin inoperative position, the current is automatically broken byseparating the socket 26 from'the prongs 25, as indicated in Figs. 1 and6. This is due to the fact that the member 29 through which the cord 27passes is located at one side of the outlet pipe l2 and is accordinglycloser to one end of the cleaner than to the other, and'to the furtherfact that the cord 2'? is only long'enough to permit the socket memberto engage the prongs when these prongs are on the side adjacent themember 29 but is too short to reach the prongs when the tool is reversedso that they are on the side remote from the member 29.

In Fig. 1, the cord 2! is shown provided with a plug 60 at the endopposite the socket 26 which fits into an outlet 28 on the motor casingI l, the outlet being similar to that described in my Patent No.1,983,566, datedDecember 11, 1934.

In Fig. 11, the attachment is shown applied to a cleaner of the Caddytype such as illustrated in my Patent No. 1,887,600, where the heatercord 27 is provided with a switch so and a separate cord 3i supplies thefan motor. In this construction it is intended that the heater unit beautomatically cut off on reversal of the floor tool, just as in theembodiment previously described. In Fig. 12 there is shown a portion ofa cleaner similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, but the connecting cord21 is of such length that on reversal of the floor tool, the plug 66comes out of its socket. It will be understood that in all of thesearrangements where there is automatic cut-oif of the heating means onreversal of the floor tool, it is necessary to manually replace the plugin its socket before the heating unit can again be employed.

It will be apparent that when current is applied to the heating unit,the wax is made softer and passes through the net cover between theloops of the heater. If desired, an attachment such as is shown in Fig.14 could be provided hav ing a longitudinal slot to permit the wax topass therethrough, the attachment serving to hold the heater unit inplace and protect the net cover.

In Fig. 13, a modified form of wax applier is shown which may be usedwith conventional types of portable cleaners and may, in fact, be usedwith the Air-Way type as well. also be employed with conventionalextension pipes from stationary or semi-portable plants. As shown,reference numeral 46 represents a heating unit including thelongitudinal elements covered by a netting 4| and carried by arectangular guide member 43 which tightly fits or telescopes over aninverted trough member 44 carrying a wax cake 45. The fit issufilciently tight to hold the parts together and prevent accidentalremoval. The trough member 44 is provided with swinging bails 45 adaptedto fit over the ends of a conventional nozzle 46, as shown in Figs. 15and 16. The nozzle may be connected through a conduit 47 and hose 48 toany suitable source of suction. It will be noted that the attachment isreadily removable and the trough 44 may be moved down under pressureapplied to the nozzle as the wax is used up. The ends of the heatingcoil are provided with conductors 49, 49, leading from the heating unitto a connector 56, which in Figs. 15 and 16 is shown as detachablycarried by the pipe 57. Current is supplied to the connector 50 througha cord 5| from any suitable source; .a switch 52 being preferably in thecircuit. When the heating attachment is to be removed, the bails 45 andconductors 49 are easily separated from the cleaner which may then beused in the conventional manner. In Fig. 17 the electrical connectormembers are shown separated from the cleaner.

In Fig. 18, the attachment is shown applied to a portable type cleanerwith the connector 56 detachably secured to a casing of a fan 01' thecentrifugal type. It will be noted that the members l9 correspond withthe members 24 shown in the first embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 14 there is shown an attachment which may be employed as a floorpolisher separate from the waxing and heating unit, or may be combinedwith the heating unit. As shown, the

It may a attachment comprises a trough-shaped member 53 having bails 54adapted to fit over the nozzle head. A central slot 55 is provided inthe bottom of the attachment. The lower face of the attachment isprovided with felts 5B or other polishing members. Where the attachmentis secured directly over a suction nozzle, the air enters the slot 55and passes thence to the inlet mouth of the cleaner. In this manner,particles of dirt, wax, etc. may be removed from the floor during thepolishing operation.

The attachment shown in Fig. 14 could be arranged to fit over theheating unit shown in Fig. 13, and would in such case, protect the netcov- 15 ering from direct contact with the floor. In such event, theattachment should preferably be made of a non-conducting material suchas phenolic condensation products, hard fiber or the like. The slot 55would then permit wax softened by the heating unit to pass therethrough.

The attachment shown in Fig. 14 could also be applied without materialmodification to the form of heating unit disclosed in the previouslydescribed embodiments of the invention, with the bails of the attachmentfitting over the ends of the nozzle or over the roller supports.

It will also be apparent that a polishing unit such as shown in Fig. 14could be used with any type of pressure head. In such event, the centralslot might not be required.

Various modifications of the invention have been described in detail forthe purpose of illustration, but it will be understood that furthervariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to make the trough l5 andthe member 2! (Fig. 2) of phenolic condensation products, hard fiber orother suitable material which is a non-conductor for electricity.Similarly, the corresponding members 44 and 43 of Fig. 13 may be of thesame material.

I claim:

1. In combination with a reversible suction cleaner nozzle having aninlet mouth, an electrically heated waxing attachment for said nozzlehaving a surface adapted to engage the floor when the inlet mouth is ininoperative position, and means for automatically cutting off thecurrent to said attachment as the nozzle is reversed to bring the inletmouth into operative position.

2. An attachment as set forth in claim 1, having a polishing barextending parallel with the inlet mouth.

3. In a device of the character described, a reversible head, anattachment therefor having an electrical wax heating portion and a floorpolishing portion, adapted to be selectively applied to the floor,according to the position of said head, means for supplying current tosaid wax heating portion when the same is in waxing position, and meansfor automatically cutting oil the current when the device is turned tothe polishing position.

DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE.

